Selanne Helps Ducks Beat Thrashers 2-1

ATLANTA (AP) _ Suddenly, the Atlanta Thrashers can't win at home. The Anaheim Ducks have been unbeatable on the road for a while. Teemu Selanne scored twice and Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 34 saves

Thursday, December 14th 2006, 6:02 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) _ Suddenly, the Atlanta Thrashers can't win at home. The Anaheim Ducks have been unbeatable on the road for a while. Teemu Selanne scored twice and Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 34 saves to help the Ducks beat the Thrashers 2-1 Wednesday night and set the NHL mark for the best road record through 15 games.

While the Southeast Division-leading Thrashers have lost four of their last six home games, including two in a row, the Ducks extended their club-record road winning streak to seven. The Ducks improved to 12-1-2 for 26 points away from home, the most for 15 games in NHL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1951-52 Detroit Red Wings had 25 points (10-0-5) through 15 road games.

Overall, the Ducks have won five in a row and 10 of 11, and have the league's best record (25-3-6).

``I know what we are capable of,'' Selanne said. ``We raised the bar higher.''

The Thrashers are only 8-5-2 at home but lead their division thanks to their 10-4-3 road mark.

About 1 minute after the Thrashers pulled even at 1-1 in the third period, Selanne skated alone into the slot and scored on a pass from Andy McDonald to restore the Ducks' lead.

``I was shocked,'' Selanne said of the defensive breakdown by the Thrashers. ``It was like junior hockey.''

The mistake spoiled a comeback attempt by Atlanta.

``We tied, we got the momentum back, then a minute later a bad read and we leave one of the best scorers in the NHL wide open,'' said Thrashers coach Bob Hartley. ``That's not acceptable.''

In other NHL games Wednesday night, it was: Pittsburgh 8, Philadelphia 4; and Colorado 4, St. Louis 1.

Selanne, who recorded his fifth two-goal game of the season, has 19 goals and 43 points this season. He nudged ahead of Atlanta's Marian Hossa for second in the NHL scoring race.

Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle, unimpressed with his team's play in a 5-4 win at Florida on Tuesday night, said his players responded to his challenge.

``We had enough energy to start because we weren't very good last night in Florida,'' Carlyle said. ``We weren't happy with our game and they took that responsibility on themselves and committed to much more of a simplified game in the first period.''

The Ducks set the pace for a physical game with their aggressive attacks and hard checks while outshooting the Thrashers 14-4 in the opening period.

Niko Kapanen scored Atlanta's only goal and Kari Lehtonen stopped 30 shots to keep the Thrashers close.

``Both goalies were outstanding,'' Selanne said. ``They really kept the score down. (Giguere) was there when we needed him.''

Selanne's power-play wrist shot over Lehtonen's glove broke a scoreless tie 15:41 into the second period.

The Ducks have scored at least one power-play goal in 15 of 17 games and began the night first in the NHL in power-play percentage (22.7).

The Thrashers' growing frustration peaked at the end of the second period. Giguere stopped a shot as time expired, but Ilya Kovalchuk knocked the deflection into the net to draw a brief angry response from the Ducks. Kovalchuk was escorted off the ice by the officials.

Atlanta avoided the shutout midway through the third period when Kapanen, charging straight at the net, scored on a pass from Kovalchuk in the right circle to tie it at 1.

``The Thrashers are a very good team, very much a force offensively in this league,'' Giguere said. ``To be able to hold them to one goal in a back-to-back is huge for us.''

Penguins 8, Flyers 4

Sidney Crosby took over the NHL scoring lead with a career-high six points to lead host Pittsburgh. Crosby had one goal and five assists to give him 47 points for the season, three more than New York Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr.

Sergei Gonchar had two goals and three assists, Ryan Malone added one goal and three assists, and Mark Recchi had a goal and assist for the Penguins, who have won three in a row.

Ryan Potulny had a goal and an assist, and Alexandre Picard set up two goals for the Flyers, who have lost five in a row.

Avalanche 4, Blues 1

Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist each and Colorado sent visiting St. Louis to its ninth straight loss

Pierre Turgeon also had a goal an assist, and Joe Sakic scored on the power play _ one of three goals for Colorado in the second period. Peter Budaj stopped 25 shots for his second win in two games for the Avalanche, who have won three of six.

Jamal Mayers scored the lone goal for St. Louis, 0-2 under new coach Andy Murray.